Circuit control device



April 6, 193 7.

I C. M. PETERSEN CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CAIZL M: PCTE'lZE'LJ ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1937. c. M. PETERSEN CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 19342 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' CARL M. PETEEfiCLJ BY Mi 7- ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE Carl M.Petersen, Morrisville, Pa.

Application November 23, 1934, Serial No. 754,400

17 Claims.

My invention relates to switches or other circuit control devicesparticularly to devices adapted to be operated manually andautomatically to break a circuit.

Devices of the type to which my invention relates are frequentlyprovided with a handle or buttons for operating the same manually tocomplete or break a circuit and with current controlled means renderedoperative when the cir- 1Q cuit is completed to be automaticallyactuated l cated, bulky and expensive.

upon overload to break the circuit. The mechanism employed in devices ofthis character heretofore has embodied a large number of parts andtherefore the devices have been compli- Furthermore after the circuit isbroken automatically devices of this character have to be reset beforethey can again be operatedmanually.

In accordance with my invention these objections are overcome byproviding a simple construction embodying a limited number of parts inwhich the elements may be operated manually after automatic operationwithout any resetting operation.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a circuit breaker whichis small, simple and inexpensive to produce.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit breaker orswitch, the elements of which do not have to be reset in order tooperate the device manually after automatic operation thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a circuit breaker,switch, or toggle operated de vice having novel actuating meanstherefor.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear fromthe following description thereof in which reference is made to theaccompanying figures of the drawings illustrating typical embodiments ofmy invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of mechanism embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2- 2 of Fig. l,

Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive are elevations of the device shown in Fig. 1 asseen from the left of Fig. 1 with the parts in various positions,

Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive are sectional views taken on the line 1--1 ofFig. 1, illustrating successive PATENT OFFICE REISSUED APR 1 6 1940 Fig.12 illustrates a further alternative form of mechanism embodying myinvention.

In that form of my invention chosen for illustration in Figs. 1 to 10 ofthe drawings, the device comprises a base plate 2 and housing 3 from theface of which projects a single operating member shown as a push button.Two spaced contact carrying plates 4 formed of insulating material aresecured in fixed position with respect to the-base of plate 2 and extendupwardly therefrom within the housing. A frame 5 mounted upon the baseplate 2 is secured to the upper edges of the plates 4 and preventsdisplacement thereof. The actuating mechanism preferably is operatedmanually by the push button 8 and as shown includes two toggleoperatedmembers l0 and i2 having a spring [4 interposed between the same. Themember l0 serves as a switch actuator and is mounted for movement aboutpivots IS in the frame 8 while the contact operating member I2 ismounted for movement about pivots IS in upstanding brackets carried bythe base plate 2. The pivot points l6 and I8 of the members 10 and I!may be located substantially in align- 2 ment if desired but, of course,this arrangement is not essential to operation of the device. Movementof the switch actuator In from one position to another carries theadjacent end of spring i4 beyond a plane passing through the pivotpoints l8 of the contact operating member, and the point of connectionof the spring H to said member, causing the latter to be moved with snapaction from one limiting position to another as in the usual operationof toggle-operated devices.

Movable switch elements for making and breaking a circuit to becontrolled by the device are mounted upon insulating plates 22 securedto and movable with the contact operating member 12. The contacts eachcomprise oppositely extending spring contact fingers 25 joined by aconducting strip 26 so that when moved into engagement with stationarycontacts 28 mounted on the insulating plates 4 they bridge the same andcomplete the circuit as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which illustratealternative on" position of the mechanism.

The contact fingers 24 and the operating mechanism therefor are movableback and forth manually from the off position of Fig. 5 to the onposition of Fig. 3. However, the elements are also movable manually backand forth from the off position of Fig. 6 to the on position of Fig.4.The parts thus have two alternative paths of movement and are sodesigned that the switch may be operated manually in one path until anoverload in the circuit causes the device to be thrown automaticallyfrom the on position of one path to the "off position of the other.Thereafter the device may be operated manually back and forth in thealternative path until it is again actuated automatically to throwit.back to the off position of the first path. This construction rendersit unnecessary to reset the mechanism for further manual operation afteran overload has caused the device to be operated automatically.

When the contact fingers 24 and operating mechanism are in either oftheir two oif" positions the members 10 and [2 are both in their extreme raised or extreme lowered position as shown in Figs. and 6.However, when in either of the "on positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 theswitch actuator member only is in its extreme upper or lower positionwhereas the contact operating member i2 is held substantially midwaybetween its limiting positions.

In order to hold the member l2 in its central or G "on" position withfingers 24 of ,the bridging contacts in engagement with the stationarycontacts 28 on plates 4, I provide releasable elements comprising a stopmember 30 carried by one of the insulating plates 22 and extendingtherefrom into position to engage or abut a retaining element such asthe bimetallic strip 32 supported at one end on one of the insulatingplates 4. The free end 34 of the strip 32 is positioned to arrestmovement of the contact operating member I2 in its movement from onelimiting position to the other and when the movable switch elements havebeen brought into engagement with stationary contacts 28 to complete thecircuit. The strip 32 is formed with a slot 36 into which the stop 30extends when the contact operating member I2 is in the on position ofFig. 3. When in this position the stop engages the inner edge of thematerial at the end 34 of the slot 36. The contact operating member i2is then in its central position while the switch actuator I0 is in itslimiting position with lugs 38 on the actuator engaging the inclinedsurface 40 on the left side of the frame to limit the movement thereof.When in the other on position shown in Fig. 4 the stop member 30 engagesthe outer end of the strip 32, the contact operating member I2 is in itscentral position, and the switch actuator 10 is in its limited positionwith lug 38 in engagement with the inclined surface 40 on the right sideof frame 8 to limit movement thereof.

When in either on position with the contact moving member held in itscentral position by stop 30 and retaining element 32, the spring i4 isunder tension so that the contact operating member is continually urgedtoward one or the other of its "off positions depending upon thelocation of the stop 30 with respect to the end 34 of the bimetallicstrip. Release of the stop member by upward movement or flexing of thebimetallic strip 32 will therefore operate to release the contactoperating member for continued movement to a limiting position. Thecontact moving member and spring contact fingers will be then move-dwith snap action into one or the other of their off positions under theresidual tension of the spring l4.

Release of the latch or retaining mechanism in the construction showntakes place upon flexing or upward movement of the strip 32 but it willbe apparent that the desired re easing oi the stop member may beeffected by any suitable means operated in response to an overload inthe circuit as by energizing a solenoid, fusing of a low melting pointconnection or the operation of other current controlled means.Preferably I employ a bimetallic strip included in series in the circuitto be controlled so as to be heated by the passage of current throughthe same. The passage of normal current does not cause the metal to beheated and flexed to a suflicient extent to release the stop 30 but uponthe passage of an excess of current the heat generated is sufficient tocause the strip to flex upwardly suiiiciently to disengage the end 34 ofthe strip from the stop member and release the contact operating memberfor continued movement so that the circuit will be broken automatically.

Since it is desirable to cause the spring contact fingers 24 to assumethe same position when the parts are moved to either of the on positionsof Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 the stop 30 preferably is movable to a limitedextent with reference to the plate 22. This movement may be effected bymounting the stop for movement on plate 22 with a portion thereofextending into a slot 42 so as to provide the necessary lost motionrequired to bring the contact fingers into the same position when strip32 and the stop 30 are in either of their on positions.

In order to effect manual operation of the switch actuator to move thecontact operating member and contacts from one position to another I mayuse any suitable mechanism such as one or more push buttons, turnbuttons, levers, or the like as desired. The form of mechanismhereinafter described for this purpose is preferred however, since itembodies only a single push button and is simple and effective in itsoperation. Furthermore the operating mechanism hereafter described isalso applicable for use in the operation of other devices or mecha nismrequiring rocking movement for its operation, such as switches, circuitbreakers, toggleoperated mechanism or other devices.

As shown in Fig. 7 the actuating mechanism comprises a hollow pushbutton 8 provided with a bead or projection 46 extending beneath aninturned portion 48 on the frame 6 to prevent upward displacement orremoval of the button from the device. The button is continually urgedupwardly by slide 50 which extends downwardly adjacent frame 6 and isformed with a slot 52 through which the pivot bearing "5 of the switchactuator extends. A lug 54 on the slide projects through an opening 56in the frame and has a spring 58 secured thereto, the upper end of whichspring is attached to a projection 60 extending outwardly from the topof frame 6 so that the spring urges the slide 50 and button 8 upwardlyto cause the button to return to its raised or projected position assoon as it is released.

The upper end of slide 50 extends into button 8 and bears against theinturned upper end 62 of an operating member 64 holding it in raisedposition within the button. Since the intumed end 62 of member 64 isflat and bears against the flat inner surface of the button 8 itnormally assumes a central position but is yieldably supported to enablethe lower end thereof to swing to either side against the action ofspring 58 and return to a central or operative position preparatory foroperation of the switch actuator. The lower end or head 66 of theoperating member is arranged to pass into a slot 58 in the switchactuator l0 when the push button is depressed. Pro- Jecting engagingelements 10 and 12 extend from the opposite sides of the head to engagecooperating elements 14 and 16 carried by the switch actuator andlocated on opposite sides of the pivot point It thereof.

When in the raised position with the switch actuator in its extremeupper position as shown in the position of Fig. 7 the engaging elementon the right side of head 66 is located above the 10 cooperating elementM on the right side of pivot i6. With the parts in this positiondownward movement of the button and operating member will bringprojecting engaging element 10 into engagement with cooperating elementI4 and move the right side of the switch actuator downward about itspivot. The head 66 travels with the element 14 and therefore moves in anarmate path about pivot Hi to the position of Fig. 8. The oppositelyextending element 12 on the head 20 will thus be moved out of the pathof the cooperating element 16 at the opposite end of slot 68 as it movesupward about pivot l6. When the switch actuator is moved down far enoughto cause spring M to carry it over to its other limiting position theoperating member again assumes a central position due to the action ofspring 58. Upon release of the push button the slide and operatingmember move upward under the action of spring 58 and the inclined upperface of element 1.2 engages the under side of cooperating element 16causing the head to swing out of the way as it moves upward. As the emgaging element 72 moves up beyond the element 16 the operating memberagain swings back to its operative position with element 12 above thecooperating element 16 into position to operate the switch actuator inthe reverse direction upon succeeding operation of the push button. Theengaging elements on the operating element thus move in parallel pathson opposite sides of the pivot i6 alternately to engage the cooperatingelements on the switch actuator on successive movements of the operatingmember and when the switch actuator is in either position.

With this construction the push button 8 may be operated at any time tomove the switch actuator manually from one position to another withoutresetting the device and without the provision of more than a singleoperating button or device. In order to indicate the position of thecontacts at all times the device is preferably provided with anindicator 80 carried by the contact operating member l2 and visiblethrough an opening 82 in the casing.

In the operation of the form of my invention described above the pushbutton 8 may be depressed as desired to move the switch actuator backand forth from one limiting position to the other. The switch operatingmember is energized for movement in the same manner but its movement isarrested in an intermediate position by the releasable elements or latchmechanism shown as a bimetallic strip 32 and the stop member 30. Manualoperation of the device during the persistence of normal currentconditions therefore will cause the contact operating member and switchelement to move between one limiting position to the intermediateposition. When in their on position an overload of the 'circuit willcause the latch mechanism to release the contact operating member aswhen the bimetallic strip 32 is flexed upwardly due to overheatingthereof. The residual tension in spring It then causes the contactoperating member 75 and the contacts 24 to be moved automatically andrapidly to a new "01! position breaking the circuit. Subsequent manualoperation of the device will then move the contact operating member andcontacts 24 back between their new off" and on positions through adifl'erent path of movement until the device is again actuated inresponse to an overload when the elements will return to their initialoif position.

While it will be apparent that mechanism embodying my invention may bevaried greatly in form and construction it is desired to directparticular attention to the possibilities presented in the applicationof the invention to devices such as manually and automatically operatedcircuit control devices in which the switch element does not move inopposite directions from the stationary contact when the device isoperated manually and automatically. Furthermore the movable switchelement employed in those constructions shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is notactuated by the spring M which causes the contact operating member tosnap over from one position to another but by separate spring means suchas the resiliency of the switch element itself.

As shown in Fig. 11 the contact operating memher is provided with aninsulating plate 22 having a single projection 84 positioned to engagethe resilient switch element 86 and move the same toward the stationarycontact 88 when the switch operating member is moved to the full lineposition in which the circuit is completed from the dotted line positionin which the circuit is broken. The element 86 is normally biased formovement away from stationary contact 88. Release of the switchoperating member due to an overload of the circuit will therefore causesaid member to be moved past the intermediate circuit closing positionto a new off position and switch element 84 will move away from thestationary contact breaking the circuit. The device may then be operatedmanually as before without resetting of the mechanism.

In a similar way the construction of Fig. 12 provides an insulatingplate 22 movable with the contact operating member but provided with twoprojections 90 and 92 movable to engage a resilient switch element 94which is normally biased for movement toward the stationary contact 96.Movement of the contact operating member to its intermediate positionshown in full lines in Fig. 12 therefore causes the projections 90 and92 to move out of engagement with the switch element so that the circuitwill be closed by the spring movement of the switch element itself.Manual operation of the contact operating mem ber and plate 22 causesthe plate to rotate bringfng one of the projections into engagement withthe switch element to move the same away from stationary contact 96while automatic operation of the device in response to abnormal currentconditions will cause the plate 22 to rotate in the opposite directionbringing the other of the projections 90 and 92 into engagement with theswitch element to break the circuit as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12.As in the other forms of my invention described above manual operationof the device may take place at all times without resetting of themechanism so that its operation is made extremely simple and fool-proof.

Although I have herein shown and described certain preferred forms ofmechanism embodying my invention to illustrate typical constructions inwhich it may be employed it should be understood that devices embodyingmy invention may be altered considerably in construction and operationfrom those specifically described without departing from the spirit andscope thereof.

I claim:

1. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a movableswitch element, an oscillating contact operating member movable from onelimiting position to another and operatively connected to said switchelement to move the same into or out of engagement with said contact,snap acting means for actuating said member, movable retaining meansnormally positioned to arrest movement of said contact op erating memberin an intermediate position and current responsive means operable uponoverload of said circuit to release said member for movement to acircuit breaking position.

2. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a movableswitch element, an oscillating contact operating member movable from onelimiting position to another and operatively connected to said switchelement to cause the same to be moved out of engagement with saidcontact when said member is moved to either limiting position and tocause the same to be moved into engagement with said contact when saidmember is moved to an intermediate position between its limits ofmovement, snap acting means operable to move said member from onelimiting position to the other, movable retaining means positioned toarrest movement of said member in said intermediate position with thecircuit completed and current controlled means operable on overload ofthe circuit to release said member for movement to circuit breakingposition.

3. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a movableswitch element, a contact operating member movable on a pivot from onelimiting position to another and operatively connected to said switchelement to cause movement of the same to break said circuit when saidmember is in either limiting position and to cause movement of theswitch element into engagement with said contact to complete saidcircuit when said member is moved to an intermediate position betweenits limits of movement, snap acting means operable to move said memberabout said pivot in a continuous movement from one limiting position tothe other, movable retaining means normally positioned to arrestmovement of said member in said intermediate circuit closing positionand current controlled means operable upon overload of said circuit torelease said member for continued movement to one of its limitingcircuit breaking positions.

4. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a movableswitch element, an oscillating contact operating member vmovable fromone limiting position to another and operatively connected to saidswitch element to cause movement of the same out of engagement with saidcontact when said member is moved to either limiting position and tocause movement of the same into engagement with said contact when saidmember is moved to an intermediate position between its limits ofmovement, snap acting means operable to move said member from onelimiting position to the other, retaining means positioned to arrestmovement of said member in said intermediate position with the circuitcompleted, manually operable means for actuating said snap acting meansto move said member from said intermediate position to a limitingcircuit breaking position, and current controlled means operable onoverload of the circuit to release said member for movement to breaksaid circuit.

5. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a movableswitch element, a contact operating member movable on a pivot from onelimiting position to another and operatively connected to said switchelement to cause movement oi. the same to break said circuit when saidmember is in either limiting position and to cause movement of theswitch element into engagement with said contact to complete saidcircuit when said member is moved to an intermediate position betweenits limits of movement, snap acting means operable to move said memberabout said pivot in a continuous movement from one limiting position tothe other, retaining means normally positioned to arrest movement ofsaid member in said intermediate circuit closing position, currentcontrolled means operable upon overload of said circuit to release saidmember for continued movement to one of its limiting circuit breakingpositions, and manually operable means for moving said member from saidintermediate position to the other limiting circuit breaking position.

6. A circuit control device comprising a contact, a switch elementmovable into engagement with said contact to complete a circuit, anoscillating contact operating member movable from one limiting positionto another and operatively connected to said switch element to cause thesame to be disengaged from said contact when said member is moved toeither limiting position, snap acting means for moving said contactoperating member, retaining means positioned to arrest movement of saidmember in an intermediate position with said switch element inengagement with said contact, manually actuated means for reversablyoperating said snap acting means to move said contact operating memberbetween one of its limiting positions and said intermediate position tomake and break said circuit manually during persistence of normalcurrent conditions and current responsive means operable upon theoccurrence of abnormal current conditions to release said member formovement to its other limiting position to break said circuitautomatically.

Z. A circuit control device comprising a contact, a switch elementmovable to engage said contact to complete a circuit, an oscillatingcontact operating member movable from one limiting position to anotherand operatively connected to said switch element to cause the same todisengage said contact when said member is moved to either limitingposition and to engage said contact when said contact operating memberis moved to an intermediate position, snap acting means for actuatingsaid member and current controlled means normally positioned to limitmovement of said member to oscillation thereof between one limitingposition and said intermediate position and operable upon abnormalcurrent conditions to release said contact operating member for movementthereof to the other limiting position to break said circuit.

8. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a movableswitch element, contact operating means movable from one limitingposition to another and operatively connected to said switch element tocause movement of the same to circuit breaking position when said memberis in either limiting position and to cause movement of said elementinto engagement with said contact when said member is in an intermediateposition to complete said circuit, retaining means positioned duringpersistence of normal current conditions to limit movement of saidmember to oscillation thereof between one limiting position and saidintermediate position, current responsive means operable upon overloadto release said member for movement to the other limiting position andmanually operable means for moving said member from either limitingposition to said intermediate position.

9. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a switchelement movable into and out of engagement with said contact to make andbreak a circuit and mechanism for actuating said switch elementcomprising an oscillating contact operating member operatively connectedto said switch element and movable from one limiting position through anintermediate position to another limiting position, retaining meanspositioned to arrest movement of said member in said intermediateposition with said switch element in engagement with said contact tocomplete said circuit, manually operable means for moving said memberfrom said intermediate position to one limiting position to break saidcircuit manually and elements including a spring and current responsivemeans operable under abnormal current conditions to move said contactoperating member from said intermediate position to its other limitingposition and break said circuit automatically.

10. Circuit control mechanism having in combination a contact, a switchelement movable into and out of engagement with said contact to Y makeand break a circuit and mechanism for actuating said switch elementcomprising an oscillating contact operating member operatively connectedto said switch element and pivoted on a support for movement from onelimiting position through an intermediate position to another limitingposition, an oscillating switch actuator also pivoted on a support andmovable from one limiting position to another, a spring interposedbetween said switch actuator and said member to cause said member tosnap over from one position to another upon movement of said switchactuator beyond predetermined positions, retaining means normallypositioned to arrest movement of said contact operating member andretain the same in said intermediate position with said switch elementin engagement with said contact to complete said circuit, manuallyoperable means for moving said switch actuator against the action ofsaid spring to operate said switch manually and current responsive meansoperable upon an overload of said circuit to release said contactoperating member and break said circuit automatically.

11. A circuit control device comprising an oscillating switch elementmovable from one limiting position to another, a contact located betweenthe limits of movement of said switch element to be engaged thereby inthe movement thereof from one limiting position to the other, retainingmeans normally positioned to arrest movement of said switch element whenin engagement with said contact and current controlled means operableupon abnormal current conditions to release said switch element formovement out of engagement with said contact to break said circuit.

12. A circuit control device comprising an oscillating switch elementmovable from one limiting position to another, a contact located betweenthe limits of movement of said switch element to be engaged thereby inthe movement thereof from one limiting position to the other, elementsincluding spring means and current controlled means retaining saidswitch element in engagement with said contact under normal currentconditions and manually operable means for moving said switch elementout of engagement with said contact.

13. A circuit control device comprising a contact, an oscillating switchelement movable into and out of engagement with said contact, manuallyoperable means for moving said switch element in one direction out ofengagement with said contact to break said circuit manually and elementsincluding a spring means and current responsive means for moving saidswitch element in the opposite direction out of engagement with saidcontact to break said circuit automatically.

14. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a switchelement movable into and out of engagement with said contact andactuating means for said switch element comprising a switch actuatormovable in opposite directions about a pivot from one position toanother, manually operable means movable toward and away from said pivotin an operating stroke during which said actuator is operated andmovable in a return stroke to restore the same to an operative position,a spring urging said manually operable means toward said operativeposition, engaging elements movable by said means in paths passing onopposite sides of said pivot and cooperating elements located onopposite sides of said pivot and alternately movable by said switchactuator into the path of movement of one of said engaging elements uponmovement of said manually operable means from said operative position.

15. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a switchelement movable into and out of engagement with said contact andactuating means for said switch element comprising a switch actuatoroperatively connected to the switch element and movable in oppositedirections on a pivot from one position to another, manually operablemeans movable in an operating stroke in one direction to operate saidswitch actuator and movable in a return stroke in the opposite directionindependently of said actuator into an operative position, engagingelements carried by said manually operable means and located in spacedrelation thereon to move with said means in parallel paths on oppositesides of said pivot, cooperating elements movable by said actuatorlocated on opposite sides of said pivot and alternately movable uponsuccessive movements of said switch actuator into the path of movementof one of said engaging elements when said manually operable means is insaid operative position and spring means urging said manually operablemeans to said operative position.

nation a contact, a switch element movable into and out of engagementwith said contact and actuating means for said switch element comprisinga switch actuator movable on a pivot from one position to another,manually operable means movable in one direction to operate said switchactuator and movable in the opposite direction independently of saidactuator to an operative position, engaging elements movable by saidmanually operable means, cooperating ele- 16. A circuit control devicehaving in combimerits movable by said actuator and located on oppositesides of said pivot, said cooperating elements being alternately movableby said actuator into a rest position in the path of movement 0! adiflerent engaging element upon successive movements of said means tooperate said actuator.

17. A circuit control device having in combination a contact, a switchelement movable into and out of engagement with said contact andactuating means for said switch element comprising a switch actuatormovable in opposite directions about a pivot from one position toanother, manually operable means movable toward and away from said pivotin an operating stroke during which said switch actuator is operated andin a return stroke independently of said actuator to restore the same toan operative position, two

engaging elements movable by said manually operable means in parallelpaths passing on opposite sides of said pivot, cooperating elementsmovable by said switch actuator located on opposite sides oi said pivotand alternately movable into rest position in the path of movement ofdifferent engaging elements, said engaging elements being yieldablysupported to enable the same to travel in an arcuate path about saidpivot when said engaging and cooperating elements are moved by saidmeans and formed with inclined upper surfaces to cause said elements tobe displaced upon engagement with said cooperating elements to permitfree return movement of said means to said operating position, andspring means urging said manually operable means toward said operativeposition.

CARL M. PETERSEN.

